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FAMU alumni focused on the mission during FAMU Day

President of the Leon County FAMU Alumni Association, Victor Gaines, talks about the impportance of alumni making a prescence at the Capitol.

FAMU showcases key programs in front of legislators

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FAMU pharmacy student Deontae Johnson, left, and James Moran, assistant director of advancement/alumni affairs, chat at one of FAMU’s booths during the University’s FAMU Day at the Capitol on Thursday. The school had information booths representing each of the disciplines within the University as well as its service departments.(Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)Buy Photo

A strong contingent of Rattlers, many of them retirees and some coming from as far away as Tampa, converged in Tallahassee Thursday for the annual FAMU Day at the Capitol.

For some, it served as a mini reunion, while others wearing some form of orange and green, made their way to meet and greets with legislators or sat in on committee meetings. Neither the House or the Senate was in session.

Several schools and colleges within the university displayed tables on the second floor, promoting the university’s signature programs in business, pharmacy, environmental sciences, journalism and agriculture and food sciences.

Angela Epps, newly appointed dean of the FAMU College of Law, was accompanied by law students and colleagues. Epps said it was important for the Orlando-based college to be seen in Tallahassee.

“Part of what they want me to do is work on being connected like we used to be,” Epps said. “Our students are also interested in jobs in the government sector, with Tallahassee being the capital of the state.”

The displays were designed to showcase the achievements of FAMU students and the need for legislative support to improve and expand those programs, said John Michael Lee, FAMU’s assistant vice president for alumni affairs and advancement.

For instance, there’s the nearly $6 million request to develop a Center for Academic Achievement and Excellence that would not only bring together academic counseling, he said, but other services for students who need additional assistance to remain in school and graduate on time.

There’s $9.5 million to hire high-profile faculty members in the areas of health, STEM, the arts and other studies.

“We want to make sure we are meeting those (performance) metrics (established by the Board of Governors) and that we have the resources to make it,” Lee said. “We want to improve and get those points.”

In addition, the university is seeking $3.4 million to assist FAMU in moving forward with developing research, teaching and equipment purchases for the 3,800 acres in Brooksville donated to FAMU by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We had a very good meeting with Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee,” FAMU board of trustee member Robert Woody said. “We talked about the legislative requests, the university and our commitment to the university.”

This was the first FAMU Day for Woody, who was appointed to the board last year.

“It’s very inspiring to see this many alumni coming together,” he said.

The day was capped off by an evening reception on the 22nd floor of the Capitol, where the FAMU National Alumni Association, which hosted FAMU Day, doled out 10 $1,000 checks to students to pay off debts and secure their chances of graduation.

Lt. Col. Gregory Clark, president of the national association, also kicked off a campaign to raise $500,000 by May to support students, especially seniors, who struggle with outstanding tuition balances and often leave before graduating.

“The visibility for the university is always good,” Clark said. “We probably need to do more of this. That’s where I’d like to see us go.”